Ol’ Ichy, if you recall, was a country schoolmaster, dreamed up by Washington Irving. Oh, he had a way with the yarn, did Mr. Irving. If we could journey back to that remote period in American history when the City of Manhattan was but a market town, we would discover in the bosom of one of those spacious coves which indent the shores of the Hudson, the little village of Tarrytown.- Walt Disney’s “The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, read by Bing Crosby; story by Erdman Penner and Winston Hibler, et al.

Two things I know about Disney nuts:

We often distort reality, twisting it on its end as if life imitates Disney when we know the opposite is true. (That pub you see in London does not resemble the Rose and Crown Pub®in Epcot®, The Rose and Crown resembles that pub!)

and

We obsessively pine for lost Disney attractions…particularly if we
never had a chance to experience a particular one…or worse:
failed to experience one with our kids!

A mainstay in the Disney World Halloween arsenal for years, the attraction – from what I hear – was an ethereal jaunt in a horse-drawn carriage turned legitimate thrill ride upon its conclusion. Themed amongst the backdrop of a hayride in the legendary hamlet of Sleepy Hollow, your bumpkin-y guide would regale you and your fellow voyagers with the spooky tale of Ichabod Crane’s formidable and terrifying encounter with the Headless Horseman…the wandering spirit of a Hessian soldier whose head was lopped off by a Rebel cannonball in 1776. According to eyewitnesses, the journey was a meandering and quaint journey for most of the trip but quickly turned menacing as the Headless Horseman literally appeared from the shadows to chase the unsuspecting riders of your cohort.

By all that is chilling and supernatural, I wish I had a chance to see it!

After all, I have been in love with 1950 short animated classic, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, for as long as I’ve known creepy-crawlies and Halloween tricks have existed. The sweet mellow tones of Bing Crosby combined with the expert characterizations of animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston are endearing, frightful tonic for anyone’s light-hearted yet nefarious All Hallows’ Eve menu. And when I found out a few years ago that an attraction based upon the film actually existed…well, let’s just say I was “dying” to see it with my own eyes one special October.

But, alas, as do many cherished experiences at Walt Disney World®, the death knell sounded for this attraction two seasons ago. Sort of crushed when I heard, I sought macabre comfort by viewing several recorded experiences of the “ride” on YouTube – something I never do for an attraction if I have yet to ride it, but in this case I made an exception as the ride no longer exists.

However, this proved futile. Maybe it was the never-quite-adequate-enough night vision of the video recordings, maybe it was the unquenchable sense of never being able to see the ride for myself in the future…I don’t now. But I had to do something. I had to heal my broken Disney heart. I had to mend these Halloween wounds…I had to…I had to…

I HAD TO VISIT ICHABOD HIMSELF!

Alright, living in the Northeast — Northern NJ, just outside of Manhattan,NY – I have the blessing of living near some very historic American real estate. Colonial settings abounding, New Jersey may generally be a cramped, built up place, but even our most densely populated areas contain remnants of our pre-Revolutionary past. With it come elementary school visits to houses George Washington slept in and old ghost stories of red coat ghosts and Rebel apparitions on the woods, glens, and old homes of the area.

One such legend that traveled south down the Hudson River from a small town called Tarrytown, past my hometown of Westfield, NJ, and into the hearts and minds of all Americans is the subject of the Disney productions mentioned above: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving.

Incorporated by Dutch trappers in 1645 and popularized by Mr. Irving in the 1820’s, this sleepy little hamlet of Tarrytown has maintained a quaint air that oozes with nostalgia and atmosphere; this makes it not only a perfect Disney setting from which to create a classic piece, but a place in which any Disney fan can find a fix for these same emotions we crave outside of the parks and movies themselves. And being that this place is only a 35-minute ride from my own home, it felt only logical to visit the inspiration for some of my favorite Disney Halloween material this past October.

Boy, am I glad I did.

For in a small corner of this sleepy little town, Washington Irving’s home still exists: the estate known as Sunnyside. Yes, it exits! Nestled on a secluded cove on the mighty Hudson River, not far from the Tappan Zee Bridge, it is a beautiful locale for literary buffs, those in search of a classic fall fun, or anyone on a Disney pilgrimage like myself. Of course, this place is far more profound than simple Disney fun, but it certainly strikes a fulfilling chord for Disneyphiles, all the same.

The home is Mediterranean-inspired country house so far removed from the massive metropolis not ten miles south of it, the only hint among the multi-colored autumnal forest, pastoral landscaping, and ancient trees of the Big Apple is the Metro-North rail line that occasionally provides a means for suburban commuters to pass by and gawk at the Halloween revelers at the home. And this time of year is clearly most special Sunnyside.

With all sorts of activities for little ones and adults alike, the spirit of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow which Washington Irving first penned here and henceforth inspired generations of artists from John Quidor to Walt Disney is alive and well. Story-telling for kids, haunted hayrides, face-cut-out picture opportunities and tours of the original home are just some of the reminiscences of the legend and season offered. That coupled with the smells of hot apple cider and chimney smoke make for a most memorable time. (There’s even a “funny” cemetery much like the one found at the Haunted Mansion®…witty tombstones and all.)

And as we visited – my Disney mug in-hand and Official Haunted Mansion soundtrack on my mind – I must say Disney World was the last thing on my mind.

I was having a fantastic time with my family: this destination was an experience all in itself, and I felt myself feeling guilty, once again, for searching for Disney outside of the parks. For while trying to recreate Disney World in New Jersey or Minnesota or Alaska or wherever it is you live may seem, at times, like a great idea, we never truly do it, do we? Plus, some experiences should just be experienced on their own merit or we risk not doing them justice. Some places, like Irving’s Sunnyside transcend and predecess even our wildest Disney fantasies…otherwise they would not have been deemed fit by Walt, himself, to recreate.

But search for experiences outside of the parks I will continue to do. Because like Ichabod Crane, I sometimes feel compelled to run like the Dickens – not because I am being chased by a Headless Horseman, but because I am chasing the specter of Disney nostalgia all the time.

I just hope they don’t discontinue Christmas before I make it down to Disney World one December.

Then I’d be in a real fix.

Happy Halloween.

*****

Richie McNanna is an 8th grade teacher from Westfield, NJ. He has been a self-proclaimed Disney nut since the age of seven when his parents convinced him that real ghosts lived in the Haunted Mansion, and his goal in life is to retire one day and become one of the Dapper Dans. Richie’s wife, Helene, is the most understanding woman on the planet for putting up with his Disney obsession and owed a great deal of emotional payback. His son is one year old and already owns several sets of Mickey ears.

]]>http://www.wdwradio.com/2014/10/displaced-disney-dad-heedless-halloween-search-mr-ichabod-crane/feed/3Video: Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2013 at Walt Disney Worldhttp://www.wdwradio.com/2013/09/video-mickeys-scary-halloween-party-2013-walt-disney-world/
http://www.wdwradio.com/2013/09/video-mickeys-scary-halloween-party-2013-walt-disney-world/#commentsWed, 18 Sep 2013 13:47:59 +0000http://www.wdwradio.com/?p=30728Join Lou Mongello as he takes you on a tour of all the tricks and treats at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party 2013 at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World!

Join Lou Mongello as he takes you on a tour of all the tricks and treats at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2013 at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World!

From Sept. 10 through Nov. 1, 2013, the after-hours special ticket event will immerse guests in the Halloween spirit. The bewitching “Happy HalloWishes” fireworks spectacular will illuminate the sky in bursts of orange and green fireworks. In “Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade” the Headless Horseman parades a gang of ghostly characters down Main Street, U.S.A. for a haunted, but happy, Halloween season.

New features this year include the debut of Jack Skellington and Sally (from Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas”), along with “Monsters, Inc.” scarers Mike and Sulley hosting their own Monstrous Scream-O-Ween Ball.

The night of ever so slightly frightful fun begins at 7 p.m. and runs until midnight, with guests encouraged to don their favorite Halloween costumes and partake in trick-or-treating around the Magic Kingdom theme park.

Have you ever been to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party? What’s YOUR favorite part of the party?

Leave your Comments below!

]]>http://www.wdwradio.com/2013/09/video-mickeys-scary-halloween-party-2013-walt-disney-world/feed/15Looking for Magic: The “World” in Motionhttp://www.wdwradio.com/2013/09/looking-for-magic-the-world-in-motion/
http://www.wdwradio.com/2013/09/looking-for-magic-the-world-in-motion/#commentsWed, 04 Sep 2013 13:30:41 +0000http://www.wdwradio.com/?p=30338by Kathy & Sean If you’re like us, you bring a camera with you to […]

If you’re like us, you bring a camera with you to Walt Disney World to capture the memories. Posed family snapshots aside, wouldn’t it be helpful if everything we photographed would freeze at the exact moment we clicked the shutter to eliminate those inevitable blurry photos?

Consider this—with some practice, capturing motion in your photographs can add a unique artistic effect and add creative depth and texture to your WDW vacation photos. We’re still practicing our motion blur technique, but here are a few sample photographs of WDW in motion.

Here’s a photography question: When you visit Walt Disney World, do you have a traditional spot where you capture a photograph to record the trip? We’d love to hear from you!

Looking for Magic is Kathy @ Two Roads Photo[K1] and Sean @ Shamrock Photo[K2] . Kathy is a librarian, walker of many miles, and Paper Bag Princess, who dreams of having coffee with Belle at the castle and co-administering a fantasy book discussion group. Sean is a fire fighter, pilot, and closet superhero, who would like to join the pack with Tigger to use his bouncy and fun powers to make people smile.

News and Rumors, Top 10 Spookiest Moments in WDW, Headless Horseman, emails and more Halloween fun!

Welcome to the WDW Radio Show, your Walt Disney World Information Station. This is Show #38 for the week of October 28, 2007.

We’re going to have a lot of fun this week with some segments to help celebrate the Halloween season, all backed with some fun Disney sounds effects, audio clips and music.

First, well, the news from Walt Disney World may not be spooky, but we’ll talk about Disney’s efforts to help the victims of the Southern California wildfires, the new look coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and more. And maybe our trip to the Walt Disney World Rumor Mill isn’t all that scary, either, but there are some interesting developments to cover.

Things get a little creepier as Tim Foster and I take a fun-filled look at the Top 10 Spookiest Moments in Walt Disney World. And then, just when you thought Mickeyâ€™s Not So Scary Halloween Party wouldnâ€™t be scary, we look at a character connection to examine a man whose face is legendaryâ€¦ because it isnâ€™t there – The Headless Horseman. Jeff and I look at his role in a Disney animated film, and both the filmâ€™s and his many connections to the Walt Disney World resort.

Iâ€™ll answer some of your emails that for the most part have NOTHING to do with Halloween, and play some of your voicemails as always at the end of the show. So as always, sit back, relax and enjoy this not-so-scary episode of the WDW Radio Show.

Links and Information from this week’s show:

To discuss issues with Guests concerned about their ability to fit comfortably on attraction vehicles, etc. can discuss these issues at the Forums at DisneyWorldTrivia.com in our “Big People” forum for Guests with Special Needs